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The most valuable substances on Earth revealed

Here are the most expensive substances on the planet, by weight

北京pk10彩票官网 www.bjn98.com You might assume that precious metals like gold and platinum, alongside stones such as diamonds, are the most valuable substances on our planet. Actually there are a host of unique and virtually unknown substances and chemicals, both natural and man-made, that by weight are immensely valuable and, in comparison, make gold prices look cheap. Click ahead for a look at our list of the most valuable substances on the planet.

Crème de la Mer: $3.75 per gram

Crème de la Mer is an anti-aging "miracle" cream that can cost in the region of $158 per ounce and approximately $3.75 per gram. Known for reducing wrinkles, Crème de la Mer is the most famous moisturizer in the world and is owned by the cosmetic giant Estée Lauder. Some of its age-defying ingredients include seaweed, natural sea and plant oils, lime extract and wax-like thinning agents.

Iranian beluga caviar: $4.60 per gram

It might seem odd that raw fish eggs are among the most illustrious and expensive substances in the world, but gourmands will tell you there's no better taste. Iranian beluga caviar is the most costly caviar in the world at $4.60 per gram. Top-notch caviar is collected from rare sturgeon species that take many years to roe.

Saffron: around $11 per gram

Another one of the most expensive garnishes in the world is the wonderfully aromatic saffron. This sultry spice is a flowering plant that is used in a variety of ways. Saffron is used as a coloring agent, for seasoning, to scent rice and also as a natural remedy to combat everything from depression to menstrual cycles. Its subtle taste and medicinal properties make saffron one of the most sought-after substances on the planet.

To'ak chocolate: $14 per gram

To'ak chocolate is the most expensive chocolate in the world and is made by a company based in Ecuador, which barrel ages it in the same way whisky-makers do. A 50-gram bar can cost as much as $695. You will also find a rare heirloom Nacional cacao bean, which has been DNA tested, in the center of the bar. The ultra-expensive sweet treat contains 77% pure cacao from Ecuador, which has been matured for three years.

Platinum: $30.50 per gram

Platinum is another metal that is highly sought-after for jewelry, but it has a multitude of other uses too. Platinum can be used in scientific experiments and is also used in anti-cancer drugs. The metal is actually so rare that all of the platinum ever mined fits into an average-sized living room, making it rarer than gold.

Rhodium: $46 per gram

Another rare and valuable precious metal is rhodium. This silvery-white and hard corrosion-resistant metal is rarer than gold and silver and, although it’s sometimes used in jewelry, its main purpose is the role it takes in the manufacturing of catalytic converters (pictured) in cars. At $46 per gram, it’s almost as expensive as gold.

Gold: $47 per gram

Although revered by everyone from ancient Aztec tribes to chart-topping hip-hop MCs, gold is much more than a shiny metal that exudes an image of wealth. Gold can be used in electrical conductivity and even eaten. As both a commodity and a form of currency, gold is still one of the most important substances on Earth.

Iridium: $53 per gram

Iridium is a by-product of nickel and copper production and is a dense, silvery-white metal. Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal on the planet and is routinely used as a hardening agent for platinum alloys. You will find iridium used in pen tips, compass bearings and for making crucibles in very hot temperatures. The reason it’s so expensive at $53 per gram is that it’s one of the rarest elements found in the Earth’s crust.

Palladium: $56 per gram

Palladium was named after the asteroid Pallas and was first discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston. This silvery-white metal is one of the rarest metals in the world and is used in jewelry, where it is sometimes referred to as "white gold." Palladium is also known as one of the three most popular alloy metals. More than half of the world’s palladium supplies are used in the creation of catalytic converters in vehicles.

Da Hong Pao tea: $1,400 per gram

It’s inconceivable that a cup of tea could cost hundreds of dollars, but at $1,400 per gram, Da Hong Pao tea rewrites all the rules. The drink that costs more than gold can usually be purchased at approximately $100 per kilo, but the rarer types of Da Hong Pao can cost even more. In 2002, a collector purchased just 20 grams of Da Hong for a whopping $28,000. That’s a serious pot of cash for a pot of tea.

Plutonium: $4,000 per gram

If you are thinking of building a nuclear reactor or weapons of mass destruction, plutonium is the key ingredient that you can’t do without. At approximately $4,000 per gram, it really is an expensive substance. This radioactive chemical is only found today in trace amounts of uranium, which makes it a rare and sought-after substance, especially for tyrannical dictators.

Tritium: $30,000 per gram

Tritium is a form of hydrogen or an isotope that is radioactive in nature that can be produced naturally in the upper atmosphere from the coming together of gases and cosmic rays. When you see the self-illuminating "EXIT" signs in public buildings, it’s the tritium that creates the luminescent glow. It’s highly unlikely that you will ever need tritium. If you do, a gram is more expensive than a family car.

Red Beryl: $50,000 per gram

Red Beryl is one of the world’s rarest gemstones. To give you an idea of how rare it is, one Red Beryl crystal is found for every 150,000 gem-quality diamonds. Red Beryl crystals at one gram in size can cost in the region of $50,000 and can only be found at three sites in the world in Utah and New Mexico. The stone is so rare because it needs the unique geological environment found in these areas.

Diamonds: pure one-carat diamonds $65,000 per gram

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And the bank manager’s too. Although the price of a diamond heavily depends on its quality and the cut, a pure one-carat diamond can cost $13,000 per carat (0.2 grams), which roughly equates to $65,000 per gram. Although we believe that the massive price tag is because of the scarcity of diamonds, the truth is that all diamonds are not so rare. But the rarer ones are expensive.

Serendibite: $90,000 per gram

When it comes to rare and expensive gemstones, not many can match the exquisite and unique Serendibite inosilicate mineral. Initially discovered in Sri Lanka in 1902 and more recently in Myanmar, this rare mineral can cost in the region of $18,000 per carat (0.2 grams). With a complex chemical make-up, this much sought-after inosilicate is mainly used in ultra-expensive jewelry.

Grandidierite: $100,000 per gram

Grandidierite is valued by Forbes as the third most expensive gemstone in the world, selling for approximately $20,000 per carat, but in some instances is the second most expensive. This rare gem was discovered in 1902 in Madagascar. Clear and facet grade Grandidierite stones are some of the hardest gems to find.

Painite: $300,000 per gram

Painite is one of the rarest borate minerals in the world and was first discovered and named after British mineralogist Arthur C.D. Pain, who originally thought they were sapphires. The mineral comes from Myanmar and there are believed to be approximately 1,000 painite crystals in circulation. Because they are so rare, a single carat of Painite can cost $60,000 and it's mainly used for ultra-lavish engagement rings.

Red diamonds: $5 million per gram

Although we have already mentioned diamonds, it is important to point out that red diamonds are the rarest stones on the planet and can cost in the region of $1 million per carat. There are fewer than 30 red diamonds known to man, most of which weigh less than half a carat. The largest red diamond ever found was 5.11ct in size and was sold for $8 million in 2011.

Californium 252: $27 million per gram

You might have heard the term "designer drugs," but "designer chemicals" are also a massive business. Californium 252 is a special isotope that is used to find the layers of water and oil in oil wells. This synthetic radioactive element has a half-life of 2.645 years and is produced by nuclear reactors. The chemical was first made in 1950 at a University of California, Berkeley lab and is worth $27 million per gram.

Antimatter: $100 trillion per gram

When it comes to finding the most expensive substance known to man, nothing else comes close to antimatter. If you thought this substance only existed in science fiction, think again. Back in 1999 NASA scientists said it would cost $62 trillion to make a gram of antihydrogen, but in this day and age the price is closer to $100 trillion per gram. It is believed that in years to come that this special substance will fuel intergalactic space travel, although that does feel like science fiction today.